Method of and apparatus for cleaning ballast



Sept. 10, 1935. H. w. PROTZELLER 9 19 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST F1led 0ct. 5, 1933' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inlfenm v Wage/1Z Sept. 10, 1935. H. w. PROTZELLE R 2,013,735

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Oct. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inlfe n g; mibller Patented Sept. 10, 19 35 METHOD OFAND APPARATUSFOR CLEANING BALLAST Application October 5, 1933, Serial No. 692,248

21 Claims.

ed claims.

One of the objects of thepresent invention is to provide an improved method of cleaning railroad ballast, either at the shoulder or intertrack space and which method is notonly rapid but is also economical and practical.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of this kind which consists in removing the ballast from either the shoulder or intertrack space, separating the dirt therefrom, using at least a part of the dirt in the leveling of the subballast, to reprepare the same to receive clean ballast and then applying clean ballast to the subballast and which clean ballast is then shaped to the'desired contou'r.

A further object of the invention isto provide a novel apparatus whereby the improved method may be carried out as the continuous operation as the apparatus moves along a railroad track.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others; together with the many advantages thereof, will .fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic transverse vertical sectional view through one form of apparatus by which the improved method of cleaning ballast may be carried out.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in'longitudinal vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of a certain cleaner box mechanism embodied in Fig. l, the plane of the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentatry, horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, as taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the apparatus as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail sectional view through a part of the apparatus as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fg. 6 is .a. horizontal detail sectional view through another part of the apparatus as taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

In general, the improved method consists in removing foul ballast from either the road bed shoulder or intertrack space, individually ortogather, substantially to subballast. The foul ballast thus removed, is-operated upon to separate out the dirt and this'dirt is'tleposited back upon the subballast. So much of the removed dirt as is not directly required in leveling up the subballast. is removed from the subballast for future disposal. The 'dirt left upon the subballast for leveling purpose in then leveled off and com- 5 pacted to reprepare the subballast to receive clean ballast which is then struck off to give the desired surface contour thereto. Such a road bed, with a leveled subballast and clean ballast, permits ample drainage so that water is not 1 trapped to mix with the dirt to turn the same into mud to seal around the tie ends in a manner detrimental to drainage. Thus the life of the road bed and ties thereon are greatly prolonged.

The improved method may be readily carried 15 out as a continuous one by means of an apparatus in the form of a car, adapted to travel upon the railroad track. Such an'apparatus includes at each side thereof, ballast cleaning and relaying mechanism whereby either shoulder or inter- 20 track ballast may be operated upon individually or at the same time.

Each mechanism includes means for digging into the ballast to excavate or remove the same as a continuous stream substantially to subbal- 25 last as the car moves forwardly along the track. The removed ballast is conveyed-upwardly and rearwardly over a grate or screen whereby the ballast is tumbled so as to rid it of dirt, which falls through said means to the subballast ex- 30' posed by the removal of the ballast mentioned. The subballast when the ballast is removed therefrom will be rough in that it might have holes or depressions therein caused by the removal of the larger pieces of stone and. rock.

Means are provided to remove the greater part of this dirt from the subballast. but to leave sufficient dirt thereon to fill up the holes, after which other means strikes oil and compacts the subballast to reprepare the same. for receiving clean ballast. The means for moving the removedballast over the cleaner grate or screen, also causes the discharge of the clean ballast from the rear end thereof, after which certain guide means in the mechanism directs the clean ballast so that it is discharged back upon the reprepared subballast. Thereafter a strike-off means carried by the cleaner box, shapes up the clean ballast deposited upon the subballast,- so that the relayed ballast has. the desired contour whether on the shoulder or intertrack space.

Referring nowin detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the drawings and especially to Fig. lthereof: v

l indicates as a whole ,a car having wheels 2 i I l whereby the car may travel on the rails 3 of a railroad track 4. Such a track forms part of a multiple track road bed and includes the usual cross ties 5 on which the rails are secured in any suitable manner. These ties are laid upon suitable ballast 6. formed along one side to provide the shoulder I and formed between adjacent tracks to provide a conventional intertrack space '8 usually having a concaved top surface. The crushed stone or rock of the ballast is arranged upon a graded subballast 9.

When through weather conditions, the spaces between the individual pieces of rock or stone become closed due to dirt accumulation, the ballast is said to be fouled or clogged. Thus water from rains and melting snows cannot properly drain away, but mixes with the foul matter, usually, fine coal, etc. to form mud which cakes the ballast and prevents drainage.

Preferably at each side of the car so that the ballast at each side of the track may be operated upon simultaneously, I provide means l0 whereby such ballast may be cleaned and relayed. For

brevity, ea'ch means will hereinafter be referred as a cleaner box, although it performs functions other than merely cleaning ballast, as will later appear.

Preferably each means has an overhead suspension with respect to the car which in Fig. 1 is shown only in a diagrammatic manner as the same forms no part of the present invention. In general. said overhead suspension includes a pair of transversely extending, projectable and retractible beams H from which hang hydraulic cylinders I2, the piston rods l3 of these cylinders being operatively connected with opposite sides of said means Ill.

The parts just mentioned are so arranged that each means may be raised out of its working position in the shoulder or intertrack space, as the case may be, and when in its raised position, the beams ll maybe retracted inwardly to bring both means l0 into their non-working position upon the car. When in the non-working position, trains on adjacent tracks may pass with ample clearance, whether the apparatus be working a section of track or be in transport from one place of use to another.

As both means I 0 are similar in construction, a description of one will suflice for both. Each means In includes a pair of upright inner and outer side plates I 4| 4 held in the desired spaced relation by cross member i 5, see Fig. 2. Connecting the front bottom corners of said side plates is a ballast breaking member l6. When the means III is in working position, it works along the top or grade of the subballast and lifts the ballast upwardly to break the bond between the rock or stone constituting the ballast.

Projecting forwardly from the front end of each side plate is a wing H which operates to cut through the ballast vertically along the tie ends.

Operatively supported between the side plates and beginning at a point spaced rearwardly of the breaking member, is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined grate or screen l8 and which has suitable openings therein. This grate or screen is provided at its front-end with a subballast plow i9 wlnch is so set as to extend into the subballast, slightly below the grade thereof, as left by the breaking member l6.

Arranged in the cleaner box between the side plates thereof above the grate I9. is an endless digger chain 20 of a width approximating that of the grate. This chain is made up of links trained about a plurality of idler sprockets 2| and a driving sprocket 22. The idler sprockets are mounted on cross shafts 23 and the driving sprocket which is disposed to the rear-and above the top rear end of the grate, is mounted on a cross shaft 24. Cer- 5 tain links of the chain are provided with digger teeth 25. The various sprockets are so arranged that the lower lap of the chain extends substantially parallel with the grate, the adjacent portion of the chain as it approches said lower lap, extending in a downward and rearward direction. In operation, the chain runs in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2 and is suitably driven by speed reduction gearing 26 from a motor 21 mounted upon the upper rear end of the side 15 plates.

Between the rear ends of the side plates is located dirt pick-up means which includes a casing 28 that extends upwardly and rearwardly from a point beneath the rear end of the grate, at an 20 inclination greater than that of the grate. This casing which includes a bottom wall 29, side walls 30 and an inverted V-shaped top wall 3|, is narrower than the distance between the side plates l4|4 so as to leave a space 32 between each side 25 plate and the side walls 30 as best shown in Fig. 4. Between the front end of the side walls of this casing and the adjacent side walls |4l4 are upright director plates or wings 33, which diverge outwardly and forwardly therefrom to meet said 30 side walls l4l4. The bottom end of the bottom wall of this casing 28 is provided with a leveling and compacting lip or member 34. Within the casing 28 an endless chain provided that is trained about a pair of idler 35 sprockets 38-31 at the front inlet end of the casing and about a driving sprocket 38 at the rear top-end of the casing. The sprocket 39 is driven through speed reducing means 39 from a motor 49 mounted on the side plates to the front 40 of the motor 21. The rear end of the casing 23 is arranged to discharge into a hopper 4| for disposal of the dirt delivered thereto.

The sprockets 36-31 and 38 are so arranged that the lower lap of the conveyor chain 35 ex- 45 tends parallel with the bottom wall 29 of casing 28. Said chain which runs in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2 is provided with flights 35a that engage said wall 29 to carry the dirt upwardly thereon from the bottom to the top end 50 thereof.

The rear bottom corners of the side plates l4 of each means ID are cut away as at 42 in Fig. 2. The means It operating upon the intertrack space 8 is provided with a strike-oil. member 43 55 at a point above said opening so as to shape the relayed clean ballast to proper contour. This strike-off and shaper. member which is substantially M-shaped when viewed from above as in Fig. 5, includes side members 44 that are secured to the side plates l4-l4 in any suitable manner and forwardly converging portions 45 that extend slightly downwardly to shape a ditch in the intertrack space as shown in Fig. l.

The means l0 operating upon the shoulder is 65 provided with a different kind of strike-oil and contour producing member. On the outside plate of said member and closing the opening 42 thereof, is fixed a closure plate 46 to the rear edge of which is pivoted a former plate 41. This former plate which has its bottom edge formed tothe shape of the shoulder contour, is slightly curved and its free edge is spaced from the rear end of the inner plate H of said means. To hold it in 7 this spaced relation, a link II is provided as best shown in Fig. 6.

when both means III are in their operating positions and the car I is moving along the rails 3,

the breaker member l6 lifts the ballast upwardly from the subballast and loosens the same between the wings I! so that it piles up as a wave between said wings. The plow l9 at the front end of the grate plows under the loosened ballast so that the teeth of the chain I 8 bite into the ballast and act to excavate and remove successive portions of the ballast and to then move the same upwardly along the grate. As these successive portions move up the grate, the ballast takes a rolling or tumbling action which loosens the dirt and foul matter therefrom and this dirt drops or .-falls through the-grate back upon the grade of the subballast.

The wings 33 associated with the front end of the casing of the dirt pick-up means, direct the dirt in toward the inlet end of said casing 28. The member 3% of said casing is so arranged as to strike or level all the dirt as it enters the easing under the action of the chain conveyor 35 and this member 3:3 aiso compacts said grade of the subballast. Thus any holes or unevenness in the grade of i the subballast are filled in and packed up so as to give a smooth and relatively hard reprepared grade or surface for the subballast to receive clean ballast.

The excess dirt, not required in the leveling up of the subballast, is carried up the casing 28 for discharge into the hopper 4| for disposal.

The ballast as it reaches the upper rear end I of the grate, is substantially free from dirt and is thus clean and this clean ballast is discharged oil the rear end of the grate. In this discharge it falls as a continuous stream upon the inverted top wall 3| at the bottom end of the casing 28 to be divided and directed toward the spaces 32-32 between the casing and the side plates so as to discharge upon opposite sides of thereprepared subballast. As the machine progresses, a considerable quantity of clean ballast accumulates on the subballast behind the dirt disposal means. Hence, the member 43 moves along and strikes oif the same to give a ditch-like top surface to the clean replaced ballast in the intertrack space.

For use on the shoulder the member 41 is employed. It strikes off the clean relayed ballast to the desired contour and as the car moves along, the excess ballast can flow out through the cutaway part 62 of the inner side plates of that means In which is working on the shoulder l. The cutaway part 42 of the opposite side plate is closed by the plate 46 and hence, properly confines the ballast.

From the above, it is apparent that the foul ballast may be removed from either or both the shoulder and intertrack spaces and is treated to separate the dirttherefrom. The dirt thus removed is discharged upon the subballast and the excess not required for subballast dressing and. leveling purposes is removed for future disposal. The subballast in this operation is not only leveled on but is compacted after which the cleaned ballast is replaced upon the reprepared subballast and is struck off to the desired contour.

The apparatus described.- for carrying out the method, operates efiiciently for its intended purpose and the parts are so arranged as to stand the working strains without damage.

' While in describing the invention, I have reierred in detail to certain steps and the sequences thereof as well as to the preferred arrangement of parts whereby the same may be carried out, they are to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the apballast, separating the dirt from the removed ballast, applying the separated dirt at least in part, to the subballast, leveling the subballast to 20 which the dirt has been applied, returning the clean ballast to the leveled subballast, and shaping the clean ballast to the desired surface contour.

3; The method of cleaning ballast which con- 25 sists in removing the ballast substantially to the subballast, separating the dirt from the removed ballast, applying the dirt at least in part to the subballast, leveling and compacting the subballast to which the dirt has been applied and returning the clean ballast to the reprepared subballast.

4. The method of cleaning ballast which consists in removing the ballast substantially to the subballast, separating the dirt from the removed ballast, applying the dirt at least in part to the subballast, leveling and compacting the subballast to which the dirt has been applied, returning the clean ballast to the leveled and compacted subballast and shaping the clean ballast to the desired surface contour.

'5. The method of cleaning ballast which consists in removing the ballast substantially to the subballast, separating the dirt from the removed ballast, discharging the separated dirt upon the subballast, removing the excess dirt from the subballast to provide the desired level therefor and applying clean ballast to the reprepared subballast.

6. The method of cleaning ballast which con- 50 sists in removing the ballast substantially to the subballast, separating the dirt from the removed ballast, discharging the separated dirt upon the subballast, removing the excess dirt from the subballast to provide the desired level therefor and shaping the clean ballast to the desired surface contour.

'7. The method of cleaning ballast which consists in removing the ballast as a continuous mass substantially down to the subballast, separating the dirt from the mass as a continuous operation and applying at least a part of said dirt to the subballast, continuously returning the clean ballast to the subballast and continuously shaping the clean ballast to the desired contour.

8. The method of cleaning ballast which consists in removing the ballast as a continuous mass substantially down to the subballast, separating the dirt from the mass as a continuous operation and applying at least a part of said dirt to the subballast, evening and compacting the subballast to which the dirt has been applied, at a rate corresponding to that of the removal of the foul ballast from the subballast, and then shaping the clean ballast to the desired contour. 7

. 9. An apparatus for cleaning ballast embodying therein a car adapted for movement along a railroad track, and means carried by the car for excavating and removing the ballast along one side of the track as a continuous stream, down to subballast as the car proceeds along the track, said means including means for separating dirt from the removed ballast and means for returning at least a part of the removed dirt to the subballast so as to prepare the same to receive clean ballast, said means carried by the car further including means for returning the clean ballast to the prepared subballast, as well as means for shaping the returned clean ballast to the desired surface contour.

10. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, a ballast crust breaking member at the front end of the box, means carried by the side plates for excavating and removing ballast substantially to subballast, means for separating dirt from the removed ballast to clean the same, means for returning at least a part of the separated dirt to the subballast, and means for direct: ing the clean ballast back upon the subballast.

11. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, a ballast crust breaking member at the front end of the box, means carried by the side plates for excavating and removing ballast substantially to subballast, means for separating dirt from the removed ballast to clean the same, means for returning at least a part of the separated dirt to the subballast, means for directing f the clean ballast back upon the subballast, and

means for shaping the clean ballast to the desired contour.

12. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined ballast cleaning grate supported between said side plates, means for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for moving the ballast upwardly of the grate to separate the dirt therefrom which is discharged upon the subballast, means for removing the dirt from and for leveling the subballast, and means for directing the clean ballast back upon the leveled subballast.

13. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, a ballast crust breaking member at the front end of the box, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined ballast cleaning grate supported between said side plates, means for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for moving the ballast upwardly of the grate to separate the dirt therefrom which is discharged upon the subballast, means for removing the dirt from and for leveling the subballast, and means for directing the clean ballast back upon the leveled subballast.

14. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined ballast cleaning grate supported between said side plates, means for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for moving the ballast upwardly of the grate to separate the dirt therefrom which is discharged upon the subballast, means for removing the dirt from and for leveling the subballast, means for directing the clean ballast back upon the leveled subballast, and means for shap -ing the clean ballast to the desired contour after application to the subballast.

15. In an apparatus of the kind described, a

Lcleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced and means directing the clean ballast back upon the leveled subballast.

16. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, directing wings secured to the box and projecting forwardly therefrom, means carried by the side plates for excavating the ballast substantially to subballast and for moving the excavated ballast rearwardly, means for removing dirt from the ballast while said ballast is thus moving rearwardly and which dirt is discharged upon the subballast, means for removing the, dirt from the subballast and for leveling the latter, means for directing the clean ballast back upon the leveled subballast, and means for shaping the clean ballast to the desired contour.

17. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined ballast cleaning grate between said side plates, means carried by the side plates for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for causing a movement of the ballast up the cleaning grate so that the dirt is separated from the ballast and falls to the subballast, means supported by the side plates for picking up the dirt for discharge and which means is spaced laterally inward from each side plate to leave a space along and inside of each side plate, and means arranged above said dirt pick-up means for directing cleaned ballast discharged from the grate, back upon the subballast through said spaces along the inside of the side plates.

18. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined 5 ballast cleaning grate between said side plates, means carried by the side plates for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for causing a movement of the ballast up the cleaning grate so that the dirt is separated from the ballast and falls to the subballast, means supported by the side plates for picking up the dirt for discharge and which means is spaced laterally inward from each side plate to leave a space along and inside of each side plate, and oppositely diverging walls arranged above said dirt pick-up means for directing cleaned ballast discharged from the grate, toward each of said spaces for deposit upon thesubballast.

19. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein laterally spaced side plates, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined ballast cleaning grate between said side plates, means carried by the side plates for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for causing 5 a movement of the ballast up the cleaning grate so that the dirt is separated from the ballast and falls to the subballast, means supported by the side plates for picking up the dirt for discharge and which means is spaced laterally inward from each side plate to leave a space along and inside of each side plate, means associated with the dirt pick-up means for directing cleaned ballast discharged from the rear end of the cleaning grate, toward both of said spaces for deposit upon the leveled subballast, and means for shaping the clean ballast to the desired contour.

20. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cleaner box embodying therein spaced side plates, an inwardly and rearwardly inclined ballast cleaning grate between said side plates, an endless digger chain arranged above said grate for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for causing a movement of the same up the grate and whereby dirt is separated from the ballast to fall back upon the subballast, means supported by the side plates beneath the upper rear end of the grate for picking up the dirt from the subballast and for leveling the latter, there being a space between each side of said dirt pick-up means and the inside of said side plates, and means between said dirt pick-up means and said rear end of the grate for directing the cleaned ballast discharged from said end of the grate toward each of said spaces for deposit upon the evened subballast.

21. In an apparatus of the kind described, a

cleaner box embodying therein spaced side plates, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined ballast cleaning grate between said side plates, an endless digger chain arranged above said grate for excavating ballast substantially to subballast and for 5 causing a movement of the same up the grate and whereby dirt is separated from the ballast to fall back upon the subballast, means supported by the side plates beneath the upper rear end of the grate for picking up the dirt from the subballast 10 and for leveling the'latter, there being a. space between each side ofsaid dirt pick-up means and the inside of said side plates, meansbetween said dirt pick-up means and said rearend of the grate for directing cleaned ballast discharged from said 15 end of the grate toward each of said spaces for deposit upon the leveled subballast, means carried by the side plates for shaping the cleaned ballast on the subballast, means carried by the side plates for shaping the cleaned ballast on the 20 subballast to the desired contour.

HARRY W. PROTZELLER. 

